Rugby Saved My Life - So my team mate claims anyway ....

So, today I achieved what I set out to do right at the beginning of all of this....... I played my first full 80 minutes of rugby. It was a target I set myself on Round 1, Day 1 of chemo - "preseason training starts today".  I had a run out a few weeks ago in a pre-season tournament - but that was only a couple of 20 minute halves.  So on Saturday - I played the full game - not an ideal situation - I wanted to start with maybe just a half -  but hey - it can't be that bad right ?! So - we played a very strong side - I play for our social team - we played the opposition 2nd team !   Aching and bruised but I absolutely loved it ! Happy doesn't come close to describing how I feel right now. If I look back at what my energy levels were like - it seems hard to imagine I would be doing this today. Looking forwards, match fitness is the next target and more games and training to help that happen.  To add to the desire to get fit - we've decided to give...

So today was the first visit back to The Marsden since the end of June. I had my bloods taken early in preparation for my late morning appointment.   Was weird being back there, a mix of emotions and suddenly that feeling of worry I might be told something bad - no idea why - I just did . The thought of - "what if it's come back?" - I mentally slapped myself! Not going to happen ! Eventually I got to see the the main man, Professor Huddart. He checked me over and told me he was really pleased with my progress. Impressed my hair had grown back dark, not grey and that I was training again. He was more pleased with the last set of test results and scans and that in short the plan had come together and we were seeing the expected results. The results being that the cancer has gone. I was sent for a routine chest X-ray and afterwards I popped up to see the staff on Kennaway ward. Was lovely to see them again and they all wanted to know how I was and were delighted...